Peter Cosgrove

General The Honourable Sir Peter Cosgrove AK, CVO, MC
Cosgrove in 2017
26th Governor-General of Australia
In office 28 March 2014 – 1 July 2019
Monarch	Elizabeth II
Prime Minister	Tony Abbott Malcolm Turnbull Scott Morrison
Preceded by	Dame Quentin Bryce
Succeeded by	David Hurley
Administrator of the Commonwealth
In office 30 April 2023 – 10 May 2023
Monarch	Charles III
Prime Minister	Anthony Albanese
Personal details
Born	Peter John Cosgrove (1947-07-28) 28 July 1947 (age 76) Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Spouse(s)	Lynne, Lady Cosgrove (née Payne)
Children	3
Alma mater	Royal Military College, Duntroon National Defence College, India
Military service
Allegiance	Australia
Branch/service	Australian Army
Years of service	1965–2005
Rank	General
Commands	Chief of the Defence Force (2002–05) Chief of Army (2000–02) Land Command Australia (2000) International Force East Timor (1999–00) 1st Division (1998–99) 6th Brigade (1992–93) 1st Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment (1983–84)
Battles/wars	Vietnam War International Force East Timor
Awards	Knight of the Order of Australia Commander of the Royal Victorian Order Military Cross Complete list

General Sir Peter John Cosgrove, AK, CVO, MC (born 28 July 1947) is an Australian retired senior Army officer who served as the 26th governor-general of Australia, in office from 2014 to 2019.

A graduate of the Royal Military College, Duntroon, Cosgrove fought in the Vietnam War, receiving the Military Cross in 1971. From 1983 to 1984, he was commander of the 1st Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment, and he later served as commander of the 6th Brigade and the 1st Division. Cosgrove rose to prominence in 1999, when he served as commander of the International Force for East Timor (INTERFET), which oversaw the peacekeeping mission in East Timor during its transition to independence. He is also an alumnus of National Defence College, India.

Cosgrove was Australia's Chief of Army from 2000 to 2002 and Chief of the Defence Force from 2002 to 2005, receiving corresponding promotions to lieutenant general and general. Cosgrove retired from active service following the end of his term as Chief of the Defence Force, and subsequently served as leader of a taskforce helping to rebuild communities in Queensland after Cyclone Larry in 2006. In January 2014, Cosgrove was named to succeed Dame Quentin Bryce as Governor-General of Australia. He was sworn in on 28 March 2014 and made a Knight of the Order of Australia on the same date. Cosgrove retired on 1 July 2019 and was succeeded by General David Hurley.